No more religion!

University of the West Indies (UWI) Political Scientist Dr Tennyson Joseph today called for an end to religious teachings and for the introduction of a fully secular curriculum in Barbados’ schools.

Political Scientist Dr Tennyson Joseph

Joseph articulated the position during a session of the Barbados Senior Parliament held at UWI’s Cave Hill Campus.

In making his contribution to the topic Should Home Schooling Be Continued in Barbados? the UWI lecturer expressed the view that a universally accepted secular curriculum would eradicate any conflicts which may exist for non-Christian members of this island’s increasingly diverse society.

The issue of home schooling was thrown into the national spotlight after a Rastafarian couple was brought before the court for refusing to send their children to school.

In September, Ijui Jah and his partner Isartes Ibre were found guilty of breaching Section 41 of the Education Act on the grounds that there was no record of the children attending formal classes.

Their children – who are both under age ten – have been placed in the custody of their paternal grandmother, pending the court’s sentencing decision on October 27.

However, in support of the Rastafarian couple’s contention that their son and daughter were being homeschooled, Joseph argued that any attempt to curtail parents’ choice to home school their child ought to be contingent on the provision of a universally acceptable education system by the State.

“The easiest way to make it [the education system] become what you want it to become is to have something called a secular education curriculum. This is universal,” Joseph said, explaining that “if you say one plus one equals two, whether you are Rastafari, whether you are Muslim or whether you are a Jew, you can teach my children one plus one equals two.

“But do not tell them about virgin births, which is a biological impossibility,” Joseph said, in an obvious reference to the Christian style of teaching.

He argued that the rest of the world had moved away from religious based education, while telling the authorities: “Don’t come with your packaged doctrines and say that is part of the curriculum and that a child cannot learn the secular things without it being packaged in religious clothing.

“As a matter of fact a modern society understands that separation,” he added.

While advocating homeschooling as a viable alternative for those with diverging beliefs, Joseph warned that the current religious-based system was failing already disenfranchised classes of society.

“The failures of the State are in fact leading to the disadvantaging of our women because they are ones carrying the burden of educating our children at home. It is leading to the disadvantaging of the poor families because they have to find alternatives to educate their children because the State will [not] do for us what we expect it to do for us in a context of independence and sovereignty . . .

“In addition to protecting our right to homeschool our children, we need to see that the struggle goes beyond that. We need to insist that the democratic State that represents us in the 50th year of our independence, the State to which we pay taxes we don’t have, begins to transform themselves into what we want them to become and they could start with education [reform] by separating religious mumbo jumbo from serious secular notions.

“If we do that, then we won’t have the problem that we do before us,” stressed Joseph.

49 Responses to No more religion!

Hal Austin October 20, 2016 at 3:39 am

Removing the so-called religious mumbo jumbo from the school curriculum and replacing it with a so-called secular one is evidence of intellectual dishonesty. It is intellectual snobbery, removing from ordinary people source of knowledge.
For over 250 years the Enlightenment, which has misled Western intellectual thought and only now is it being reversed.
Unlike some religions which are now going through Reformation, Christianity experienced a Reformation nearly 500 years ago because thinkers such as Luther saw the need to take forward theological thought.
They resolved the conflict between science and religion and we continued to progress.
In the Caribbean what passes as intellectual thought is the rote repetition of the thoughts of authors, lecturers or ideas stolen from websites or other independent thinkers.
You see it every day in Barbados on social policy, people appropriating ideas from others then claiming them as their own.
We need to teach young people to think for themselves, to contest the ideas of others and arrive at their own original conclusions. Medical science is a good example of this misappropriation.
The French remain the best educated people in Europe, along with the Germans, because philosophy is part of the curriculum of secondary schools.
In third world countries we tend to exaggerate academic titles, but all a PhD means is that someone has spent three years or more writing a 50000 plus word thesis on an obscure subject.
While respecting the achiever, please do not attribute to the holder some God-like status.
Religious knowledge is part of our intellectual inheritance. Even if you do not practice it, we need to know about it.
As someone brought up in Sister Waithe’s pentecostal church in Mayers Road with my maternal grand mother, I feel blessed. And as someone who studied Enlightenment thinkers, from Kant (in English) to the leading modern thinkers, I know better.

Having ears and not hearing and eyes and not seeing. As one who was brought up in the same kind of religious dogma, I now have a more loving freeing compassionate existence. Truthfully I don’t see where all this religious dogman has gotten Barbados. The dogma does not empower it weakens and hence the issues that are world wide. Teach people that they are God Being fully empowered as Jesus taught, not the mumbo jumbo that is purported that he said and our world would be so different.

“but all a PhD means is that someone has spent three years or more writing a 50000 plus word thesis on an obscure subject.”

how incredibly belittling to the academics who have had to work incredibly hard to get that title. Your phrasing seems to suggest like it’s an easy task, and it can take up to 4 years to get your PHD, assuming you do a good enough job to warrant the title. Most people also have to complete their masters degrees first to be eligible to start the PHD. To get a PHD requires a sacrifice of 3-6 years total after completing a bachelors degree, usually at a cost of 10’s of thousands of Bajan dollars.

also, isn’t the fact that faith is completely metaphysical and 100% impossible to prove or demonstrate, enough reason to have it removed from schools? or should we start teaching children that the british indeed DID kill dragons in the dark ages, because old stories claim so.

Religion should be taught and Moral education not religious conversion. Religion was from the beginning of man until now and I believe it will always be with man. You cannot ignore such an influence that shaped the lives or the human race, was involved in every aspect of life, developed nations, shaped political and educational forms and will continue to do so form many more years because it will be going nowhere. To ignore religion or disregard it as if it will not have any impact your life is foolish. If you can introduce /teach evolution in schools you have to keep religion in schools.

Dont worry peoples the same Bible said all these things would happen. What got me beat though is this, if God wasnt or isnt real why fight so hard to stop the same bible, pray etc. Something some of these athiest should think about. Why are Christians being killed everyday because of the belief in Christ just tell me why!!!!! God speed to all those who dont believe.

where are these christians being killed every day for their belief? lol. no one is trying to “stop the bible”, one man is arguing the case to remove religion from schools, which makes perfect sense to stop discrimination. you want to be religious, that is completely fine, but leave it for the church, is that not the very reason churches were built?! to praise and teach the word of god? schools are for science, churches are for christianity

The French remain the best educated people in Europe, along with the Germans, because philosophy is part of the curriculum of secondary schools??? Whose miseducated philosophy is this ?? Someone who has colonized you—-Africans in the Caribbean in the US and South America have suffered institutional racism which degraded the spiritual and cultural self esteem because of the fictional/mythical image of Christ paraded in western society. The french refused to respect the fully independent status of many an African nations up until this very day. We all know where the word nazi originated from. A people without the respect and knowledge of their forefathers is a tree without a root.

Speak Brother, we condemn and disparage the colonials for enslaving us, yet we hold on so tightly to the dogma that they taught us, a dogma that they themselves do not honor has never honored, but is a sure way to control the masses and boy has it done a good job, we cannot even think for ourselves.

“For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than human strength,” 1 Corinthians 1:25.

Cease crying about the past as cruel as it was. What’s done is done. Not one of us can change it. And cease using it as an excuse for our often poor choices/ decisions, laziness, entitlement mentality. Turn to our Maker, the one eternal GOD to save from eternal damnation. None of us can go to the Living GOD on Judgment Day and claim racism as a reason for not repenting of sins in which ALL engage. None of us. We can’t tell Him we were aware and proud of our African past as a reason for letting us into His Kingdom. We wore African attire, participated in ethnic festivals, attended lectures etc. as reasons for us entering the Kingdom of GOD. How foolish that would be. All of these things will be totally meaningless to a holy GOD who demands perfection. And which human being is perfect? None, including this writer. So who has been appointed to stand in the gap for sinful man? None other than GOD’s perfect Son, the Beloved Jesus the Christ who sacrificed His precious blood on our behalf. So wake up and smell the Milo. Stop following ungodly American ways and seek the Lord, while He may be found. He will meet you where you are and pull you up, all the way up to His bosom. Then you will be eternally safe. He will implant His wisdom to get you through this life and on to eternal life with Himself. Wake up peoples, wake up to the Great Jehovah, the Most High GOD and the endless possibilities He offers freely to anyone. And if you’re thinking otherwise, none of us is intelligent enough to write the Holy Scriptures or create a Holy GOD who rules the universe from His abode, none of us. “To GOD be the glory, great things He has done.”

Even if religion wasn’t in the school, the Rastafarian wasn’t still going to send their children to school. It was never about religion, they did want their children to be expose to the “world”. Not only Christianity is taught, all religions are taught. They found themselves in trouble because they did not register for home schooling but we let media distract us from the real truth. Nothing isn’t wrong with home schooling, just the ministry outlines what needs to be taught. If Christianity is not your religion, just don’t know teach it. What is impossible for man is not impossible for God. This world have all the answers, yet still so much chaos. We need Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, deny it or accept it.

Thank you Dessy. “They found themselves in trouble because they did not register for home schooling.” That is the issue right there. You cannot homeschool without the permission of the State.

I keep repeating that in these blogs but the intelligent university graduates cannot get it understood that there is where the problem is. They are talking a bunch of nonsense about religion. The issue with the Rastafarians has nothing to do with religion. They broke the a law.

Parents who are legitimately homeschooling are doing so because they went through the Ministry of Education and was given permission to do so. They are also monitored to ensure they are following the curriculum. The Rastafarians curriculum only constitutes Maths, English and Religion, that tells you they could not have gone through the Ministry of Education to homeschool.

Not in this Barbados. We are proud of our nation and will continue to be God fearing people teaching our young ones to do the same. We even declare our love and trust in Him in our National anthem. Let us continue to worship Jehovah God. He has not failed us in the past and will continue to be our Guide in the future.

Let the parents teach their children what ever religious belief they want their children to have. I don’t see that all this religion has done Barbados any good. Wake up folk. We are powerful Beings that has been dumb down by an understanding that have no historical backing.

yes in this Barbados…. we can’t stay in the dark ages for ever, and we cannot ignore our cultural diversity. Barbados is home to more than one religion, as well as many many secular and agnostic people who don’t speak up about their “lack of faith” because that is met with ridicule by the Christian majority.

With the advent of the internet and easily accessible information, and increasing education, religion is losing ground. (statistically the more educated a population is, the less religious it is) and conversely the less educated a population the more religious it is.

There is every possibility that Christianity will start to lose its grip on Barbados in the future if we start to go in the right direction in terms of education and growth. And i optimistically say, bring on a brighter Barbados. let us be compassionate to those who do not hold the same religious views as us, and let us not cry down people for not believing in god, that is 100% up to them.

its really sad that we are asked to accept the concept of education as a purely secular scientific concept with no room for religious beliefs. This is as a result of the continuing trend of removing of GOD from our homes and allowing the so called secular open minded beliefs to dictate our existence. Note I said GOD not religion and that distinction must be made. No education of young people can be complete without the concept of GOD and his principles for living. It defines our character and drives good characteristics that we all want for society such as , patience, tolerance, discipline, obedience and respect for others . In a society that is rapidly degrading into the annuls of violence , greed, lack of civility and respect for authority and law how can it be enforced if one does not insist on a wholistic approach to educating young people. I believe that all religious beliefs should be embraced and thought in schools to avoid the misconceptions and issues inherent in society today.

Ashanda Coward, do some research. Change is constant so we have to accept that and live with it. First of all The bible was created and written by man just over 3,000 years ago. It was based on events interpreted by those men of high order. To entrap, enslave and control the minds of humanity. Dinosaurs roamed the earth 67 million years ago. Where was God then? If God made everything, Then who or what made him? Answer that!

No one made God. He has always existed.
You are under the impression that evolution is true and that is why you ask that question. Evolution is the biggest lie ever. Even some important modern scientists have told the population that current science is off by the 10 to the factor of 120 by the current cosmology and belief system. Do you really, deep down, think you came from nothing? Did your mother come from nothing? Do you know you were born? 🙂 just testing, anyways, not trying to insult, just trying to get you to think outside that box that they have set us in. “Critical thinking”, they call it, no, what they mean is, you will think what we tell you to think. We’ll brainwash you with news, movies, games, and you will thinking as we want you to think.

Start researching about who created evolution and to what end. There is no “millions” of years. If that were true, why do we still have animals now and suddenly many are being extinct NOW in your days. Why is the population only at 7 billion. If there were millions of years, we should be over trillians in population. Why do we suddenly have all this technology (even in the past 70 years) if there were millions of years. No, Phil, the earth is young and it is not what you think it is nor what they have led you to believe it is. I used to be an atheist, but no more. I have researched for 8 years now. Evidence and history suggests it is very young. They will teach you lies in school as that is what they are taught as well. The system is made on purpose to remove God and destroy His people. It is ON purpose. They call it “advancement”, “progress” yet look at the extremely high number of crimes, rude, disrespectful kids, cancer, etc.. They love it, it brings them money. None of that is normal. Those are signs of a generation moving away from its Creator. All of that is done on purpose, it is not random.

You need to study about where all of that began, who created this current belief system (secular schooling, evolution, planets, you living on a ball that somehow holds water without dripping, false science, weird human rights all of over the earth and who’s pushing for those (hint, people with trillions of dollars), who’s pushing to eradicate Christianity, yet it is growing in China and various countries, why so much murders of Christians in north Africa, middle east, some parts of Asia, why so much persecution, the wealthy modifying the Bible ON PURPOSE to make it negative (why? think about that one, why not the Qur’an?) and so on).

Paul, in the Bible, prophesied that in the last days, people will move away from sound doctrine in order to turn away to myths (Nasa, Movies (hollywood), video games, TV shows, etc.). People love having their ears tickled, but what good is that? selfishness, that’s all. Self-gratification. Then, they brainwash you and tell you to remove biblical teachings from school, put it on the news, and advertise it as they know it brings tension, discord, and brainwashes you to think it is the right way. It is on purpose.
Love has grown cold.

And don’t forget the tight link between Christianity and racism, Christianity and slavery and Christianity and indentureship. How many Christian dictators have we had? “Black Christian” is an oxymoron at best and a case of false consciousness at worst. It’s too late to get the mumbo jumbo out of adults’ heads, but there might still be time to save the children if we act soon and responsibility.

Dr. Joseph is confused. There has been separation of church and state in Barbados for more than 40 years. The constitution of Barbados guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of association. Children are not forced to participate in religious activities in schools if parents object. The issues of home schooling and religion should not be confused since religious education is an extremely small part of the school curriculum.

Every society needs to have a set of core values and most of these have their origin in religious teachings. However, there are some details on which persons of different persuasion would disagree. For example, I accept the value of the Ten Commandments as the reference point for the establishment of laws; but I may have difficulty with the virgin birth.

Oh Ashanta, research has shown that over 90% of university graduates and current students worldwide DO NOT BELIEVE in God. A lot accept it because of pressure from either their parents or social respect. Deep within, they don’t simply because they see the hypocrisy and financial fortitude that emanates not forgetting Political influence and tax free allowances. The church, especially the Evangelists and Pentecost whose self made preachers demands 10% of one’s salary each month. I call it extortion in the name of God. Let’s face it. People go to church to show off their finery and vehicles. The preachers try to pick up unsuspecting women both married and unmarried from within their congregation. I personally heard this from two such preachers while we were engaged in libation session. Ashanta, go figure…

It’s not that they don’t believe in God, they are just not religious and they don’t believe the Gods of the bible are really Gods but they do believe there is a God. The one you Christians folks worship in the old testament is just a god awful manipulating being and the one in the new testament was just a man, an extraordinary man but still a man.

That’s what you heard right? in school, news, etc. the God of the old testament is this “evil” “manipulating” person.
They love to portray Him as such. Somehow you believe that because you heard it. Who hasn’t heard that? That’s called pure brainwashing. Making you believe something they want you to believe, in order to hate that person.

I have read the Bible, there is NOTHING manipulative in the Bible. It is written during the course of 3500-4000 years. Yet the Lord remains the same. Our lifespan is about 100 years, yet the scripture were written during the course of so many thousands of years. Think about that mate. God exists and is the same in the “old” and the “new”. It is one book, not 2.

Let me say this our man made laws comes from the Great and only law that makes sense and keeps men women and children in check and that law is from the word of God the TEN COMMANDMENTS without that law chaos would be universal so take religion out is to take out protection from the homes ,schools and society so these professors or Political Scientist who boldly say to do these things will one day see that their wisdom is foolishness the experiment had been tried in France which was the result in the French Revolution read the history of it

So i will say BOLDLY leave what DON’T trouble you for when you trouble it it will eventually TROUBLE YOU

@, Phil, hail, hail on the button adding I always ask this question , If god is suppose to be good to us where was god and Jesus during the centuries of slavery…

I always thought that one day the manufactured religions would in some way collide, because people has allowed they lives not to be control or govern by democracy or state constitution, but by the manufactured religious movements which has taken over and is controlling they lives., with leaders who sets out to make themselves very , very wealthy…………………..
,,,,,,,,,,,,,, Decade after decade black people is proving we cannot manage ourselves politically , religiously or other wise our levels of education may look good on paper , but carries no real influence to the world which is solely control by the white man..
Barbados and the regions blacks is not on they own,
you take a long hard look at the world s biggest ex colony the (US) and you see what religions has done has given blacks even after 50 years being worst of than the previous 50 years and also after 2 terms of a black (President) ,,,,,,,,,,

You again be honest black people in the (US) have a 100% chance of doing dam well, better than any black people any where in the world , you have Senators , Congress men , Mayors, Governors , Police chiefs , top medical Doctors and in every part of society, but still black people cannot (established themselves to be a force in the (US) thats the control the white man has imposed on black people using the bible ….

To extend further in the (UK ) you cannot miss the weekend bible whackers, its so easy how the (British ) Government places no restriction on black churches , jump on a plane fly to (England) find an old factory , or ware house put a sign up and away you go people give 10 % of they wages and this pastor driving around in £80,000 range rover colour white and wearing £5,000 suits…
My take if I had to choose a religious movement ,other than my present way of life ,believing in how much money I have in the bank and looking after my family and good friends ,who I share some serious time with enjoying some good (EJ Brandy) and good bottles of port…
it wouldn’t be so call Christians this is too confusing one god ,one Jesus hundreds different versions of the bible and religions, who is right , who is truthful……

It is indeed still very evident that the black folk are still shaped from the psychological damage of slavery. Racial harmony can only come when there’s racial justice. So we can never disrupt what never exists. Our people are not foolish, we don’t need magic we need truth. We don’t need deception we need truth. Those of you in power you know that you’re deceiving the black masses, politically, economically religiously but, your time is soon up.

It is easy for the jump on a high horse and condemned these views. Trying to analyse them calls for far more mental energy than most people are willing to expend.

Religion is a private and personal matter. No one should seek to impose their religions beliefs on others – even children. Schools do have religion on their time tables, but as Comparative Religion, in which they learn about the basic principles and history of the world’s major faiths.

This is quite compatible with the objectives of public education.
When it comes to prayers and rituals and religions songs, the school should never be the purveyor. Children come from various religions background, and it is highly presumptuous of anyone to prescribe prayers and religious doctrine for them, based on their (the providers’) own beliefs.

It is not “Religious Education” because it does not educate students on the Religions of the world. It is Christian indoctrination and little better than Sunday School in an otherwise intellectual and secularist curriculum, in which it has no place in the year 2016. Also Ethics and Empathy are not mutually inclusive nor can they be synonymized with Christianity; Christianity does not set the criteria for what is moral or even sane, neither do those concepts fall under its purview. Is torturing a man and his entire family just to see if he would lose faith and you would win a bet with your nemesis either moral or sane? Because that’s what God is Love allowed to happen to poor Job. So Ethics and Empathy can be taught outside of the Christian faith, and indeed, they should be.

Happy to see persons commenting with an open mind and that this is not an attack on Christianity. The point being made is that we hold others, who may not share Christian beliefs, to ransom when we force Christian rituals on them as part of regular school activity. Barbadian schools do not teach, recognize or observe any other religious rituals or beliefs but hastily exclude other persons who are non-christian from regular school religious activities (prayers, christian observances, religious & moral education). A new system has to be put in place that embraces tolerance and respect of the religious differences existing in Barbados. It would be arrogant to continue pretending with the self righteous indignation which currently exists.

there is always an attack for Christianity to be removed from mankind’s knowledge, Jesus is hated by the world but Christianity always will prevail, God has preserved Himself through Jesus the Godman, He is mankind’s Creator and the whole world including our little ones in the schools must know that everyday of their lives. why? one might ask

mankind has a problem that separates us from the Living God=sin.
you see we have inherited a rebellious nature from our fore parents that makes us hate God, refuse to obey Him, we want to do whatsoever we want so long as it derives pleasure for us, we think only about me, myself and I. that was not why we were formed from dust and put on earth to dwell with each other. why then? one might ask

God formed us for Himself, for His pleasure, to share Himself with for He is a selfless God, He wants to come and fellowship with us, tabernacle with us. remember we are the only creation that has His Spirit dwelling within them, we are His most treasured possession and He has done it all that we can once again dwell in His Presence.

that’s why there had to be a virgin birth God dwelling as mortal man, His death and His resurrection, that what separated us from Him be dealt with once and for all, He has laid the axe to the root of the tree totally eradicating the sin nature from man that we can once again be holy and perfect in Him. but one might ask “how do I access this nature?”

there is only one way, through His son Jesus the Christ, if one makes a 180 degree turn from disobedience to Him and make Him as Lord and Savior of their lives one will inherit this new nature, an overcoming and victorious life for all eternity

do not harden your hearts stop. look past the education, wealth, fame, power degrees, doctorates, pleasures, look past it all and you will see we all still have to leave this world and then what?

Now I can see Tennyson is dishonest. When he was a failed candiddate in the St Lucia elections in 2006 an accusation was made that he did not believe in God. he denied this and claimed that in his opinion no right thinking person could deny the existwnce of God. Now with his new hairstyle and accent it is mumbo jumbo. Such a shame.

Religion should be taken out of the schools. The mumbo jumbo does not teach anything in the bible any way or even about us as a people. This is why our young people are so wayward. Religion was inherited from the western world. Even Luther was an antichrist. Christians do not even do anything in the bible – anything goes even homosexuality. None of their feast days are ordained by the most high. Scrap that garage and bring real truth.

The intellectuals In the US said the same thing some years ago and now they want to put religion back in school because they have lost control. The problem is not religion, so please leave religion alone and look into the mirror to see if you can find the problem.

I don’t understand Dr. Tennyson Joseph’s rant. Can a child be said to be properly educated if he / she has no knowledge or understanding of the world’s largest religion – Christianity? Can a child be properly rounded if he/she has no appreciation of the Judaeo-Christian traditions, roots and heritage of their society? Can a child be properly grounded if he has no basic formal study of the book that has informed the faith of his fore-parents? Is it wrong for a school to give children some formal study of the world’s most widely circulated, sold and read book? Even if purely as an academic exercise there is sound justification for the teaching of Christianity and the study of the bible in schools. Now I agree that that other religions should be studied as well. But there is no need for this so-called secularization of the school curriculum.

Is religious education taught in schools to convert anyone to a particular religion?

Jehovah Witnesses do not take part in morning prayers at school.

To each his own, if you are an Atheist do you, if you are a Muslim do you, If you are an Agnostic do you, If you are a Christian do you, If you are a Rastafarian do you. Whatever else you are that I did not mention do you.

No one can tell me what or who to believe in for my spiritual sustenance or how to raise my children in terms of their religious beliefs. If they choose to do differently after they become adults, that is their business.

Tired of these so-called intellectuals who seems to lack basic commonsense. They always have all the answers yet they provide no solutions.

The problem is that religion (Christianity) teaches nothing about the great I am. ‘my people have not known me” Each holiday is connected to a god that you or your fore fathers have not known including baal and the fish god. The entire earth is engulf in this mess.
Please go and research before talking.
Regardless of what you think you are celebrating and for what cause. The problem is the teaching of the bible is not getting to the root of our peoples problems. nearly 400yrs post slavery and still being taught the same lies. Buddism – Chinese, Christianity – white conquerors, Muslim – Asians, Judaism- so called Jews in Israel. Hinduism-Indian. Where does our spiritual roots lie.
Instead teach our children/people how they fit in with biblical
scriptures. Lack of research breeds ignorance for old and young people. None restoreth.

Notice i said scrap the lies – not the bible and bring real truth. It will solve every problem with our people from not wearing their god given hair to actually wearing it and also their poor social behavior. Among other self esteem issues. Many nations that financially feed off of our ignorance will go bankrupt i guarantee you.

People, do I need to remind you folks that the vast majority of your ancestors came from Africa and they were not Christians. Folks, Christianity is an adopted religion force upon us by European Masters to rob us of our true identity and way of life. It also keeps us in bondage mentally. Free your mind and the blindfolds will be lifted. I can guarantee you, if you actually study science, particularly genetics, archaeology and anthropology along with and philosophical thinking we can overcome. Why not offer all the subjects mention above including the scriptures to the students and let them form their own opinion on the matter.

Cut out the religious mumbo jumbo!?? Just know my friend My King and Savior Jesus Christ died for your sins as well sir, weather u are willing to accept that or not but I do know for CERTAIN, one day EVERY knee will bow and Every tong will confess that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords to the Glory of the Father…….Persons wonder why the young people behaving like they have no values? Because they have NO understanding on who God is a Holy, Righteous and Just God just to name a few, I would advice person to get right with him because the times are drawing very near, when my King will be bursting those skies. SO Please pick Light over Darkness.

One of my clearest memories of going to primary school in Barbados is receiving a sharp slap for failing to ‘clasp my hands and close my eyes’. I must have been around 5. It is disheartening to think that some 20 nuff years later force feeding children a compulsory diet of religious dogma with their ABC’s is still the norm there. Yet there is no room on the cirriculum to inform children that the first British slaving ship was called The Good Jesus. A hellish state of affairs if you ask me. I am thinking of moving back to Barbados soon and this will be contingent on the existence of a private school (presumably this will be far more likely at a private institution rather than public) where children are not exposed to religious doctrine as a matter of course – prayers at assembly etc. Mandatory religion is a divisive and outdated concept which I am sure denies many tax paying citizens full access to education for their children. That is not fair.

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